Collagen fibril size and crimp morphology in ruptured and intact Achilles tendons

The present study examined the hypothesis that collagen fibril diameter and crimp angle in ruptured human Achilles tendons differed from that of intact ones. Tissue samples were obtained from the central core (distal core) and the posterior periphery (distal superficial) at the rupture site, and the proximally intact (proximal superficial) part of the tendon in 10 subjects (38 +/- 8 years) with a complete tendon rupture. For comparisons corresponding tissue samples were procured from age (38 +/- 7 years) and gender matched intact Achilles tendons during routine forensic autopsy. The cross-sectional area density and diameter distribution of fibrils were analyzed using stereological techniques of digitized electron microscopy biopsy cross-sections, while crimp angle was measured by the changing banding pattern of collagen fibers when rotated between crossed polars. Nine of 10 persons with tendon ruptures reported that the injury did not occur during exceedingly large forces, and none experienced any symptoms in the days or months prior to the injury. Fibril diameter distribution showed no region-specific differences in either the ruptured or intact tendons for either group. However, in the distal core there were fewer fibrils in the ruptured compared to the intact tendons in 60-150 nm range, P<0.01. Similarly, in the distal superficial portion there were fewer fibrils in the ruptured compared to the intact tendons in the 90-120 nm range, 2P<0.05, while there were no differences in the proximal superficial tendons. Crimp angle did not display any region-specific differences, or any difference between the rupture and intact tendons. In conclusion, these data suggest that although crimp morphology is unchanged there appears to be a site-specific loss of larger fibrils in the core and periphery of the Achilles tendon rupture site. Moreover, the lack of symptoms prior to the rupture suggests that clinical tendinopathy is not an etiological factor in complete tendon ruptures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Matrix Biology. All rights reserved.